What is hope?
In the Old Testament, there were several different words that we translate into “hope.” Some of the definitions include:
- Eager Anticipation
- Object of Longing
- Confidence
- Trust
- Something waited for
- To confide in
- To trust
- To wait
The Greek, however, had only 2 words for hope:
- “to expect or confide; thing hoped for, trust”
- “to anticipate with pleasure; expectation or confidence
Nowadays we use “hope” to mean “thing I want to happen in the future” or “to wish for.” In religious contexts, hope and faith become these magic words – “Everything will be ok – I have hope!” But using the words like this will not help us in reality. They may make us feel good about a bad situation, but they will not change the situation.
What can we hope in? What can we have faith in? If we take the “wait” definition of hope, imagine you are waiting for a bus. It is reasonable to wait for the bus and hope that it will come on time. If the bus is reliable, it will come approximately on time and bring you to your destination at the intended time. Let’s say, though, that you are waiting for a bus; you check the schedule and suddenly realize the next bus isn’t due for another 45 minutes! It would be folly to “hope” that the bus would come early. You were trusting in a bus that was not going to come.
What if we do that in real life? Let’s say a close family member is sick with cancer. Can your hope make this person better? It sounds good to say “hold on to hope,” but is hope itself able to rescue you?
“Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him” – Ps. 42:5
If our hope is in God, we can wait on Him. He is the trustworthy One who will always come right on time.
“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles’; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Is. 40:31
We cannot wait on our circumstances to have joy. Our circumstances may never improve. Rather, we wait on God and we will have joy in whatever the circumstance.
One excellent example of a man who waited on God rather than his circumstances is Chinese Pastor Zhang Rongliang. Last Sunday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church; as my roommate Emily and I were praying for various persecuted Christians in the world, we came across this man’s story. During his time in prison, many Christians around the world worked to get him out. He, however, said he was “glad they failed” because his time in prison gave him the unique opportunity of reaching people with the Gospel, since prison ministries are not allowed! If his hope were in freedom, this man would be depressed. Yet his hope is in God, so his imprisonment became fodder for thankfulness.
Where is your hope? Do you have hope in God that leads to thankfulness?
